Newcastle Pardew blames fatigue for derby defeat

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew revealed weariness of the players after Thurday’s Europa League encounter with Benfica lies behind the 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland.

With both clubs facing a tough battle against relegation this season, the Tyne and Wear derby was tense and thrilling as never, and the Black Cats, led by the furious Di Canio, came out the winners.

That was third Newcastle’s defeat in four games, with the Magpies suffering elimination from Europe and finding themselves just 5 points above the relegation zone. Pardew revealed: “It looked like a team that had worked all week on the opposition and were fresh, and the other team looked tired - that was our team. We were tired and lost our shape a little bit at times and were off the cuff. We were just tired in the mind and in the body. A game like that, you can’t be. It took its toll on us this week.”

“With that in mind, we still should have played better. The linesman has made a crucial decision at 1-0, which could take the game somewhere else. Unfortunately for us, he has called it offside when it’s not. They have then, from two breakaways, smashed it in the top corner. It’s a very ugly day for us and from the staff and from my players, I apologise to our fans,” he added.

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